Akshay Kumar's risk pays off

Mumbai, Nov. 21 -- South actors Vijay and Kajal Aggarwal's Tamil film, Thuppakki, opened to a blockbuster response this Diwali. And back in Bollywood, one person is especially thrilled with the praise the film has garnered. Months before AR Murugadoss's film had even gone on the floors, Akshay Kumar had already bought the rights to remake it in Hindi. As a result, he bought the rights for only R30 lakh.

"Akshay was in awe of the story the moment he first heard it. So in 2010, he bought the rights even before Thuppakki's shooting had started. The fact that it is doing well has given him another reason to be happy," says an insider.

Vijay's film has got the biggest opening at the box-office in Tamil Nadu and Kerala after Rajinikanth's Enthiran (Robot; 2010). Akshay, who took a big risk by investing the money before judging the film on its box-office returns, was apparently confident of his decision all along. When contacted, the actor says, "Right now, I can only state that I am happy to be working with Murugadoss in the film."

To be produced under Akshay's banner, Hari Om Entertainment, and Vipul Shah's Sunshine Pictures, the film is expected to go on the floors around January-February 2013. The last Murugadoss film that was remade in Bollywood was Ghajini (2008). It went on to become the first Hindi movie to cross the R100 cr mark at the box-office.